Method and procedure to measure fluid flow and fluid fraction, and equipment used to that end.-

ABSTRACT

A procedure for determination of flow and fraction of fluids includes the steps of: determination of Spin-Lattice relaxation times to be measured; assignment of radiofrequency pulse sequences corresponding to each of the fluids to be measured and with the fluid flow; application of a radiofrequency pulse sequence to a first coil; application of a second radiofrequency pulse sequence to the first coil; and application of a third radiofrequency pulse sequence to a second coil.

[0001] The present invention describes a procedure to measure fluid flow and fluid fraction as well as the equipment used to that end.

[0002] As an aid to the comprehension of the present invention in order to easy the transfer and to put it to work properly, a precise description of a preferred way of realization will be given in the following paragraphs, making reference to the various drawings and figures attached.

[0003] The present invention is introduced by means of a purely demostrative example, but by no means is intended to limit the invention, and its components could be chosen from various equivalents without altering the principles established in the present document.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—ITS AIM

[0004] The identification of the fluids conveyed in a duct, as well as to measure the flow and fractions of the mixed fluids is needed in a large number of industrial processes.

[0005] These are, for example, the cases in the extractive oil industry and the petrochemical industries, where it is most important to know the quantities of oil, water and gas flowing, at any given time, through a duct coming from an oil well; to identify given pollutants in process industries efluents, food industries, etc.

[0006] This is te case in the oil industry, since the obtained data allows to quantify well primary production as well as the success achieved with secondary extraccion. In these wells high pressure fluid inyection is used for recovery of remaining oil.

[0007] In order to carry on the above mentioned measurements sampling procedures are used in different production stages, that is to say, flow intervention is required to obtain proper sampling.

[0008] The inventors have estimated that the data obtained, in a non-invasive and non-destructive way, and that these data are obtained independently of the mixing state of the flowing fluids, will end up in important costs reductions, as well as in the time used to carry on the measurements.

[0009] To this end, the inventors have established that Nuclear Magnetic Resonance turns out to be a non-invasive and non-destructive technique that can be used to obtain a flow meter and fraction meter, thus counting with a procedure to carry on simultaneously both the flow and the fraction of the fluids flowing through a pipe.

[0010] The inventors know that when a system of magnetic moments, such as those of the nuclear spins of the hydrogen atoms, are introduced in an external magnetic field, they have a tendency to align along this magnetic field giving rise to the nuclear magnetization which precessess about this magnetic field with characteristic frequency known as the resonance frequency.

[0011] In this way, and as a consequence of the presence of the external magnetic field, the nuclear spins reach a new equilibrium state.

[0012] The time required to reach this new equilibrium state, measured from the instant in which the nuclear system is introduced in the magnetic field, is known as the “Spin-Lattice Relaxation Time”, and is indicated as T₁.

[0013] T₁ values depend on the many physical phenomena undergone by the spin system.

[0014] Among these, particularly, may be mentioned the temperature, the system dynamics, the molecular structure in which the hydrogen atom is, the molecular dynamics, the intra- and intermolecular interactions, etc.

[0015] If the nuclear magnetization departs from its equilibrium state, its component perpendicular to the externally applied magnetic field decays away in a characteristic time known as “Spin-Spin Relaxation Time”, which is indicated as T₂.

[0016] T₂ values depend also on many physical phenomena undergone by the spin system, among which the temperature, the molecular structure, the molecular dynamics, etc., may be mentioned as the most important ones.

[0017] Particularly, in an heterogeneous system, such as oil and water fluid mixture, the hydrogen nuclei in the oil and water molecules are well differentiated by means of their spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times due to the various and different processes and physical phenomena undergone by the two types of molecules.

[0018] Additionally, other relaxation processes may be accounted for. One of the most relevant ones is the so called “Rotating System Spin-Lattice Relaxation Time”, which is indicated as T_(1p).

[0019] Nuclear Magnetic Resonance literature is plenty of experimental techniques as to how to move the nuclear magnetization away from its equlibrium state.

[0020] In this direction, the inventors know of many scientific works published previously to the innovation contained in this document.

[0021] Proper account has been taken of the books “The Principles of Nuclear Magnetism” by A. Abragam (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1961) and “Principles of Magnetic Resonance” by C. P. Slichter (Springer-Verlag, New York Heidelberg Berlin, 1990).

[0022] The authors have considered as well the published works by R. R. Enrst y W. A. Anderson in “The Review of Scientific Instrument”, Vol. 37, N^(o) 1, Page 93, 1966, and by R. Bageira de Vazconcelos Azeredo, A. L. Colnago y M. Engelsberg in “Analytical Chemistry”, Vol. 72, N^(o) 11, Page 2401, 2000.

[0023] In order to have a flow meter to measure fluid flow and fluid fractions, and a procedure to record the flow and the fractions of the flowing fluid in a duct, the authors have used the radiofrequency pulse techniques.

[0024] Thus, they have winded a coil around the fluid to be measured and have applied pulses of alternating current at the resonant frequency or at a slightly shifted frequency in order to move the nuclear magnetization away from its equilibrium position.

[0025] Once the pulse ends the magnetization returns to the equilibrium position, but in doing so precessess about the externally applied magnetic field.

[0026] This precession induces an alternating voltage in the coil, which is referred to as the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance signal, whose amplitude is proportional to the number of hydrogen nuclei present in the fluid sample and its temporal evolution depends on both spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation processes.

[0027] The information contained in the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance can be used to determine the fluid flow as well as the fraction of each of its components independently if these components are emulsified or fase separated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The enclosed drawings to the present description are schematics of the present invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for the purpose of illustration only, and not as a definition of the invention.

[0029] In the drawings:

[0030]FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the main components of the fluid flow and fraction meter;

[0031]FIG. 2 exhibits a block diagram of the data central processing unit; and,

[0032]FIG. 3 a block diagram of the main components of the radiofrequency unit;

[0033]FIG. 4 shows the schematics of the general magnet diagram;

[0034]FIG. 5 shows a tranverse view of the magnet;

[0035]FIG. 6 exhibits a general diagram of the detection tuned circuitry;

[0036]FIG. 7 shows the schematics of the magnet set up;

[0037]FIG. 8 shows the schematics of a possible realization of magnet set up for large section piping; and,

[0038]FIGS. 9 and 10 show the schematics of pulse sequences to measure spin-echo and the steady-state-free-precession, respectively.

REFERENCES

[0039] In the above described figures the same reference characters indicate same or complementary parts.

[0040] In the drawings:

[0041] Reference Number 1 is reserved to indicate a computer;

[0042] Reference Number 2 is reserved to indicate a communication interface;

[0043] Reference Number 3 is reserved to indicate a board;

[0044] Reference Number 4 is reserved to indicate a radiofrequency synthezyser;

[0045] Reference Number 5 is reserved to indicate a pulse programmer;

[0046] Reference Number 6 is reserved to indicate a receiver;

[0047] Reference Number 7 is reserved to indicate a low-noise preamplifier;

[0048] Reference Number 8 is reserved to indicate a mixer;

[0049] Reference Number 9 is reserved to indicate a video amplifier;

[0050] Reference Number 10 is reserved to indicate a transmitter;

[0051] Reference Number 11 is reserved to indicate a radiofrequency switch;

[0052] Reference Number 12 is reserved to indicate a power preamplifier;

[0053] Reference Number 13 is reserved to indicate an attenuator;

[0054] Reference Number 14 is reserved to indicate a power amplifier;

[0055] Reference Number 15 is reserved to indicate a multiplexor;

[0056] Reference Number 16 is reserved to indicate a magnet;

[0057] Reference Number 17 is reserved to indicate a pole piece;

[0058] Reference Number 18 is reserved to indicate a yoke;

[0059] Reference Number 19 is reserved to indicate a duct;

[0060] Reference Number 20 is reserved to indicate a central section;

[0061] Reference Number 21 is reserved to indicate a first coil;

[0062] Reference Number 22 is reserved to indicate a second coil;

[0063] Reference Number 23 is reserved to indicate a pipe;

[0064] Reference Letter “a” is reserved to indicate a data center;

[0065] Reference Letter “b” is reserved to indicate a radiofrequency unit;

[0066] Reference Letter “c” is reserved to indicate a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance;

[0067] Reference Letter “d” is reserved to indicate a circuit;

[0068] Reference Letter “h” is reserved to establish amplitude; and,

[0069] Reference Letter “τ” or “T” is reserved to make reference to time.

[0070] The letters h, τ and T above mentioned are subindexed, meaning reference to a given parameter.

SHORT DESCRIPTION

[0071] Basically, the present invention consisting in a procedure to determine the flow of fluids and the fraction of flowing fluids, and the flow meter, is composed by a central data handling, a radiofrequency unit and a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0072] Once established the components of the present invention consisting in a procedure to determine the flow of fluids and the fraction of flowing fluids, and the flow meter employed, in what follows the relationships among them and with the results they produce, is given.

[0073] With the end purpose of obtaining a fluid flow meter able to measure the fluid flow passing by through a pipe as well as the fraction of each one of the components fluids, and to allow to move such a flow meter to carry on such measurements at preestablished locations, the inventors have determine that it turns out preferred to obtain such measurements from the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance signal of the hydrogen nuclei contained in each of the fluid components.

[0074] To this end, knowing that the various fluids are differenciated by their corresponding spin-lattice relaxation times, it is required a previous determination of these relaxation times for each of the fluids to be measured.

[0075] The description of the present flow meter is made up of three principal blocks.

[0076] The first of them is the data handling and processing central -a- consisting of a computer -1- with the specifications needed to carry on the required data processing, and with enough capacity to store the required information.

[0077] This computer -1- is loaded with the necessary measurement soft and is linked by means of a comunication interfase -2- that allows bidirectional flow of information to distant places; a data adquisition and digitalization board -3-; a frequency sinthezyser -4- used to produce the radiofrequency pulses, and a pulse programmer -5- that allows to control the radiofrequency pulses as well as the data acquisition and the multiplexing switch.

[0078] The second block is the radiofrequency unit -b- which is integrated with elements that allow amplification of the radiofrequency pulses to be used to perturb the nuclear magnetization.

[0079] Thus, this radiofrequency unit -b- consists of a receiver -6- integrated with a low-noise preamplifier -7- linked to a mixer -8- which in turn is linked to the radiofrequency syntheziser -4- and with a video amplifier -9-, which feeds the information to the board -3-.

[0080] The function of the receiver -6- is to amplify the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance signal to allow its acquisition and analog to digital conversion in the board -3- to be sent afterwards to the computer -1- for processing and, if required, for its transmission by means of the communication interfase -2-.

[0081] Also, the radiofrequency unit -b- consists of a transmitter -10- integrated with a radiofrequency switch -11- linked to a power preamplifier -12- which feeds an attenuator -13- and this, in turn, a power amplifier -14- linked to the multiplexer -15-, which derives to the receiver -6-.

[0082] The purpose of the transmitter -10- is to amplify the radiofrequency pulses to be sent to the third main block, that of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance unit -c-.

[0083] This Nuclear Magnetic Resonance unit -c- has a magnet which provides an stable external magnetic field to polarise the nuclear magnetic moments.

[0084] The magnet is made up of two solid volume cilindrically shaped -16- permanent magnetic material pieces and, to increase the homogeneity of the produced magnetic field, two cilindrically pole pieces -17- are added.

[0085] Both, the magnetic material -16- and the pole pieces -17- are mounted in a yoke -18- leaving room for a pipe -19- trhough which flows the the fluid to be measured.

[0086] This pipe present a centralized part -20- made up with a synthetic type material, such as for example teflon, arranged in between solid walled pieces that allow proper matching to any flow, that is to say, making sure the maintenance of a given and proportional flow through the first coil -21- and through a second coil -22- in the detection circuitry -d-.

[0087] The detection circuitry -d- is made up of two identical coils -21 and 22- deployed about the central part -20- and in such a way that, taking the flow direction of the fluid as a reference, one of them sits at beginnig while the other sits at the end of the homogeneous zone of the magnetic field.

[0088] The detection circuitry includes impedance matching circuitry connected to the transmitter -10- and to the receiver -6- through a multiplexor driven by the pulse programmer -5- which selects which one of the two coils -21 or 22- receives radiofrequency pulses and which detects the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance signal.

[0089] The radiofrequency pulses derived to coil -21 or 22- according to the selection done by the pulse programmer -5- according preestablished instruccions programmed in the computer -1- produce a high frequency magnetic field which perturbs the nuclear magnetization.

[0090] In an alternative realization, the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance unit -c- may be mounted at the interior of a pipe -23-. This situation may be necessary in the oil industry if a large section production line is used, such as is schematically shown in FIG. 8.

[0091] The fluid flow and fluid fraction meter described may be realized in such a way that a magnet and the detection tuned circuitry are to be mounted on each pipe -23- sharing the same central data handling and processing unit -a- and the same radiofrequency unit -b-.

[0092] In this realization, which is ideal for a crude oil collecting battery, the flow and fraction of oil and water measurements are carried on in an alternate and parallel way.

[0093] With the end purpose to obtain a procedure to determine fluid flow and fluid fraction, by means of the flow meter already described, a real case will be taken as a concrete example, such as that of the extractive oil industry, where it turns to be necessary to determine the amounts of oil, water and gas of the total flow running through a pipe.

[0094] The first step in the procedure is to determine the spin-lattice of the fluids to be identified.

[0095] The second step is to set up the radiofrequency pulse secuences to be used in order to obtain measurements of the amounts of oil and water and the total flow in the circulating fluid.

[0096] To that end, the pulse sequences used are the spin echo in the case of oil and water, and the steady state free precession en the case of total flow.

[0097] The spin echo sequence is used in such a manner that, in a third step, a two radiofrequency pulse train is applied to the first coil -21-.

[0098] The first of these two pulses rotates the nuclear magnetization by 90°, therefore being called a π/2 pulse.

[0099] The second pulse, in turn, has a length twice that of the first, therefore being called a π pulse and being applied at a time -τ₁- very short compared with the time -T₁- of the formation water.

[0100] This produces the nuclear magnetic resonance signal known as the spin-echo, or simply the echo, at exactly the same time -τ₁- after the second pulse.

[0101] The echo amplitude -h₁- is a nuclear magnetic resonance signal parameter that turns out to be directly proportional to the total number of hydrogen nuclei at the oil molecules, but only to a few ones of the hydrogen nuclei at the water molecules.

[0102] This is due to the fact that the oil T₁ time is much shorter than the water T₁ time.

[0103] Applying, in the fourth step, a second radiofrequency train pulse sequence similar to the previous one and having obtained a second echo at 5τ₁ from the first applied pulse, its amplitude -h₂- will be directly proportional to the amount of oil contained in the volume of the first coil -21- and the contribution to the nuclear magnetic resonance echo coming from the water molecules will have been completely attenuated.

[0104] Next, a time larger than that of the water T₁ is waited, and therefore, in a fith step, apply a third train pulse sequence, identical to the previous ine, but in the second coil -22-, therefore producing an echo whose amplitude -h₃- is directly proportional to the amount of full amount of oil and water contained in the volume of the mentioned second coil -22-.

[0105] Therefore, the evaluation of the difference between the echo amplitude -h3- in the second coil -22- and the echo amplitude -h2- produced by the second pulse train, allows to obtain the total amount of water.

[0106] In turn, dividing the previously obtained result by the time, the flow speed of the circulating mixture of fluids is obatined.

[0107] In the alternative realization, represented in FIG. 10, the steady state free precession pulse sequence may be used.

[0108] In this alternative, in the third step an equally spaced π/2 continuous train pulse sequence is applied during a fixed time τ, therefore producing a nuclear magnetic resonance signal which is proportional to the flowing fluid speed and to the the relaxation times.

[0109] This property allows to separate out oil from water by controlling the length of the pulses and by changing the separation time among them.

[0110] Additionally, knowing that the oil T₁ time is much shorter than that of water, the first coil -21- is used with a properly chosen steady state free precession sequence for oil detection and the second coil -22- with a properly chosen one for water detection.

[0111] The signal difference is compared with echo amplitudes obtained by the coils -21 and 22- full of oil and water.

[0112] Therefore a it has been presented a sequence of steps and a possible way to concret the invention, as well as the principles on which it is based and complementing the documentation with a synthesis of the invention contained in the following replevying clauses, on page 14. 

Having described and determined the nature of the invention, its extent and the way which it can be implemented according to its basic concepts, it is declared as invention and exclusive property the following: 1.- The procedure for the determination of the fluids flow and fluids fraction, characterized because it includes as a first step the determination of the Spin-Lattice relaxation times to be measured; as a second step the assignment of the radiofrequency pulse sequences correspondent to each of the fluids to be measured and with the fluid flow; as a third step the application of a radiofrequency pulse sequence to the first coil; as a forth step the application of a second radiofrequency pulse sequence to the first coil; and a fifth step the appication of a third radiofrequency pulse sequence to a second coil. 2.- Method, according to the claim number 1, charcterized because in the second step, the assigned pulse sequence are the Spin Echo of the fluids to measure and the Steady State Free Precession to determine the fluids flow. 3.- Method, according to the claim number 1, charcterized because in the third step, the first pulse of the two pulses sequence rotates the nuclear magnetization by 90° and the second pulse has a duration of twice of the first one producing a signal of nuclear magnetic resonance at a time equal to the time between pulses after the the second pulse, and having a signal amplitude as a parameter of the nuclear magnetic resonance signal which is directly proportional to the number of nuclei of a determined element of the molecules of one of the fluid component and only few nuclei of the other fluid component. 4.- Method, according to the claim number 1, charcterized since the the second radiofrequency pulse sequence produces a second signal time shifted from the first applied pulse which amplitude is proportional to the amount of resonant spins of one of the fluids to measure and contained in the volume of the first coil, and is completely attenuated in relation to the second fluid to measure. 5.- Method, according to the claim number 1, charcterized since prior to the fifth step follows a waiting time during it and in the fifth step, the third pulse sequence give rise to a signal with its amplitude directly proportional to the total number of nuclei, of both fluids, conained in the volume of the second coil, and the difference between the the amplitude of the echo in the second coil and the echo of the second pulse sequence determines the amount of one of the fluids to measure. 6.- Method, according to the claim number 1, charcterized since during the third step a continuous sequence of equally spaced pulses during a fixed time in order to obtain a nuclear magnetic resonance with its' amplitude, prior one of the, pulse, is directly proportional to the velocity at which the fluid flow and to the relaxation times and where one of the coils provides a sequence of Steady Sate Free Precession different and adecuated for the detection of one of the fluids to measure. 8.- Fluid Flow and Fluid Fraction Metter according to the method of the claim number 1, charcterized since it is formed with a data processing unit; a radiofrequency unit and one nuclear magnetic resonance unit; and, where the data processing unit involves a computer processor link to data acquisition an digitalization board; a frequency syntheziser and a pulse programmer; and, where the radiofrequency unit is formed with the required means to amplify the radiofrequency pulses, also possesses a receiver and a transmitter; with its receiver is integrated with a low noise pre-amplifier link to a mixer which is also link to the radiofrequency sytheziser and with a video amplifier which provides the siganl to data acquisition an digitalization board, of the computer; with its transmitter link to a radiofrequency switch connected to a power pre-amplifier, an attenuator, and a power amplifier link to a multiplexor that sends the signal to the receiver with its nuclear magnetic resonance unit contains a magnet formed by two individual magnets and two pole pieces framed in a yoke which possesses a central pipe for the fluid flow to measure with a central section made of a non magnetic material between two metalic sections with rigid walls; with its central part forming the circuit of detection having two identical coils set along this section such that, taking as reference the direction of the fluid flow, uno of then is located at the begining of the homogeneous field while the other is at the end; with its circuit of detection possessing the the impedance matching circuits link to a multiplexor which is linked to the transmitter and the receiver and through them to the pulse programmer which provides radiofrequency pulses and to the nuclear magnetic resonance signal to one of the previously selected coils to generate a high frequency field. 9.- Fluid Flow and Fluid Fraction Metter according to the method of the claim number 1, charcterized since the permanent magnets as well as the pole pieces are of cylindricla volume. 10.- Fluid Flow and Fluid Fraction Metter according to the method of the claim number 1, charcterized since the nuclear magnetic resonance unit is mounted inside of a big section pipe. 11.- Fluid Flow and Fluid Fraction Metter according to the method of the claim number 1, charcterized since around each of the pipes of a crude oil collector battery a magnet and the detction tuned circuits are mounted and all of them share the same central unit and the same radiofrequency performing the meaurement of the Fluid Flow and Fluid Fraction of each fluid to measure in a parallel and alternated way. 